Hudson Valley Nets MJHL Title, Heads to Nationals with PAL
March 21, 2005
by Ron D'Orazio
March 21, 2005
by Ron D'Orazio
The Hudson Valley Eagles can add another impressive accomplishment to their resume, a Metropolitan Junior Hockey League playoff championship.
The Eagles, a first-year Met League squad, won a tight two-game series over host Suffolk PAL this past weekend to clinch the first title in their first year in Met League play. "They were two great games," Hudson Valley coach Keith McAdams said. "They are a well-coached team. We played great defense. We shut down their top line in the second game."
Hudson Valley received solid goaltending from netminders Carmine Vetrano and Alan Fritch as coach McAdams gave each one a start. Vetrano stopped 27 of 30 shots in a 4-3 Hudson Valley win in the series opener, while Fritch was 29 of 30 against Suffolk, which owned the league's top offense in the regular season.
The Eagles, a first-year Met League squad, won a tight two-game series over host Suffolk PAL this past weekend to clinch the first title in their first year in Met League play. "They were two great games," Hudson Valley coach Keith McAdams said. "They are a well-coached team. We played great defense. We shut down their top line in the second game."
Hudson Valley received solid goaltending from netminders Carmine Vetrano and Alan Fritch as coach McAdams gave each one a start. Vetrano stopped 27 of 30 shots in a 4-3 Hudson Valley win in the series opener, while Fritch was 29 of 30 against Suffolk, which owned the league's top offense in the regular season.
Eastern Europe product Mihail Koklin also came up large for the Eagles, scoring three goals in the two contests. Two of Koklin's tallies came on special teams as he notched a power play and a shorthanded goal. Koklin's shorthanded score proved to be an insurance goal in Sunday's game which clinched the series. Henrik Olofsson had a goal and an assist in Game 1, while Andrew Scampoli picked up Game 2's
winning goal.
The Eagles accomplished this feat with four guys banged up. Ben Kenyon (knee), Mark Luongo (ankle), Brett Saari (ankle) and Jimmy Wallace all were hurt in Game 1 but competed in Game 2. "We rotated (our lines) around," McAdams said. "We tried to get them less ice time. It turned out good for us."
Suffolk, which lost just four games all season prior to their series with Hudson Valley, could not get anything going one weekend after beating the Connecticut Clippers in the semifinals. Suffolk was the victim of two tough calls, both disallowing goals, in the first five minutes of Game 1 and coach Jim Wright's team never really recovered.
winning goal.
The Eagles accomplished this feat with four guys banged up. Ben Kenyon (knee), Mark Luongo (ankle), Brett Saari (ankle) and Jimmy Wallace all were hurt in Game 1 but competed in Game 2. "We rotated (our lines) around," McAdams said. "We tried to get them less ice time. It turned out good for us."
Suffolk, which lost just four games all season prior to their series with Hudson Valley, could not get anything going one weekend after beating the Connecticut Clippers in the semifinals. Suffolk was the victim of two tough calls, both disallowing goals, in the first five minutes of Game 1 and coach Jim Wright's team never really recovered.
"I give Hudson Valley credit," Wright said. "They played hard. It's bittersweet to lose that way in a playoff series. We had some guys hurt and we were missing Ben Rosen, who was at tryouts for the U.S. National Training and Development Program."
A powerful force since the regular season's opening game, Suffolk never led the Eagles in their series after going 3-1 against Hudson Valley during regular-season play. Matthew Faber collected a pair of goals and top scorer Mark Lebbens had a goal and an assist in Game 1. Lebbens, however, had a great opportunity to tie Game 1 near its end but could not cash in on a penalty shot.
A powerful force since the regular season's opening game, Suffolk never led the Eagles in their series after going 3-1 against Hudson Valley during regular-season play. Matthew Faber collected a pair of goals and top scorer Mark Lebbens had a goal and an assist in Game 1. Lebbens, however, had a great opportunity to tie Game 1 near its end but could not cash in on a penalty shot.
Defenseman Michael DeMayo suffered an injury in Game 1, but he returned to score Suffolk's only goal in the second contest. Top defenseman Steve Rizer was also hurt for Suffolk during the series. "We've got two weeks off now," Wright said. "If you aspire to achieve at the top level, you have to play with pain."
A big key to the series was that the Eagles managed to keep Suffolk's big guns quiet. They held Suffolk's top three scorers, Lebenns, Rob Pfeiffer (47 regular-season points) and Rizer (39) to a goal and two assists total for the series.
"We've progressed every single game in the playoffs," McAdams said. "Everybody embraced their role and did their job. This has been a dream year."
Despite the loss, Suffolk will join Hudson Valley in Blaine, MN for the Junior ‘B’ National Tournament, which starts on April 1, and to battle for the Silver Cup.
It will be Suffolk's sixth appearance in the last eight years at Nationals. They have gone to the finals twice in that span. Both times saw Suffolk fall in overtime, so perhaps a third visit, if they can earn it, will be the charmed one.
A big key to the series was that the Eagles managed to keep Suffolk's big guns quiet. They held Suffolk's top three scorers, Lebenns, Rob Pfeiffer (47 regular-season points) and Rizer (39) to a goal and two assists total for the series.
"We've progressed every single game in the playoffs," McAdams said. "Everybody embraced their role and did their job. This has been a dream year."
Despite the loss, Suffolk will join Hudson Valley in Blaine, MN for the Junior ‘B’ National Tournament, which starts on April 1, and to battle for the Silver Cup.
It will be Suffolk's sixth appearance in the last eight years at Nationals. They have gone to the finals twice in that span. Both times saw Suffolk fall in overtime, so perhaps a third visit, if they can earn it, will be the charmed one.
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